Source: Cointelegraph
Original text: (Starknet achieves 'Stage One' decentralization, ZK-Rollup track locks volume tops)
The Ethereum (ETH) layer-two scaling platform Starknet has reached the decentralization milestone proposed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and has become the largest zero-knowledge rollup network by total locked value.
Starknet announced in a press release to Cointelegraph that according to the framework established by Buterin in 2022, the network has achieved 'Stage One' decentralization, meaning it is currently operating under limited supervision or 'training wheels'.
Starknet further stated that this framework is the 'gold standard on-chain tool for analyzing Ethereum scaling solutions' and noted that this milestone was achieved through reforms such as the establishment of a security council and anti-censorship mechanisms.
While the system still allows for intervention by a security council, it has implemented a complete and effective proof-of-validity system governed by smart contracts.
According to L2beat data, Starknet is currently the only layer-two ZK-rollup network to reach Stage One and has evolved into the largest ZK-rollup blockchain with a total locked value of $629 million, slightly higher than ZKsync's $610 million.
In terms of locked value, Starknet ranks as the fifth largest layer-two network, with the top four all based on optimistic rollup technology and having achieved Stage One decentralization through fraud proofs.
Fraud proofs assume transactions are invalid until proven valid, while validity proofs assume transactions are only valid when cryptographic evidence demonstrates their validity.
'Our goal is to completely remove the training wheels and achieve Stage Two decentralization on Ethereum while fully advancing our work on Bitcoin,' said Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder and CEO of StarkWare.
'Stage Two' decentralization is the phase where the network will be fully autonomous and governed by the community. According to L2beat data, currently only three small layer-two scaling platforms have reached this stage.
Vitalik Buterin introduced the concept of 'training wheels' in 2022, which refers to the three stages of the Ethereum scaling rollup project at different stages of development.
Coinbase's layer-two network Base leads the field with a locked value of $14.7 billion, capturing a market share of 33%. In contrast, Starknet's market share is 1.4%.
The total value locked on-chain in the layer-two ecosystem is $44.2 billion. With the rise in Ether's value, this number has recently climbed, but it has decreased by 20% so far this year.
Related: Centralized infrastructure needs to adopt decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN)
